STUDIES ON THE SEROLOGICAL TYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS HEMOLYTICUS

The cross-reactions which interfere with satisfactory serological identification of hemolytic streptococcus are due to anticarbohydrate in the sera used for typing. This antibody can be removed easily by absorption with purified streptococcus carbohydrate, and type identification is then readily established. The serological classification of hemolytic streptococcus from throat infections contracted in New York during 1935 and 1936 showed the predominance of types 4, 13 and 22. Type 13 appeared to be the most serious in initiating rheumatic activity during this period of observation.     

One Health surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses: a repeated cross-sectional study exploring seroprevalence and endemicity in Southern France, 2016 to 2020

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), two closely related flaviviruses, mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, but also infect humans and other mammals. Since 2010, their epidemiological situation may have shifted from irregular epidemics to endemicity in several European regions; this requires confirmation, as it could have implications for risk assessment and surveillance strategies.AimTo explore the seroprevalence in animals and humans and potential endemicity of WNV and USUV in Southern France, given a long history of WNV outbreaks and the only severe human USUV case in France in this region.MethodsWe evaluated the prevalence of WNV and USUV in a repeated cross-sectional study by serological and molecular analyses of human, dog, horse, bird and mosquito samples in the Camargue area, including the city of Montpellier, between 2016 and 2020.ResultsWe observed the active transmission of both viruses and higher USUV prevalence in humans, dogs, birds and mosquitoes, while WNV prevalence was higher in horses. In 500 human samples, 15 were positive for USUV and 6 for WNV. Genetic data showed that the same lineages, WNV lineage 1a and USUV lineage Africa 3, were found in mosquitoes in 2015, 2018 and 2020.ConclusionThese findings support existing literature suggesting endemisation in the study region and contribute to a better understanding of USUV and WNV circulation in Southern France. Our study underlines the importance of a One Health approach for the surveillance of these viruses.     

Travel-Associated Rabies in Pets and Residual Rabies Risk,Western Europe

In 2015, countries in western Europe were declared free of rabies in nonflying mammals. Surveillance data for 2001–2013 indicate that risk for residual rabies is not 0 because of pet importation from countries with enzootic rabies. However, the risk is so low (7.52 × 10⁻¹⁰) that it probably can be considered negligible.     

Determination of Cholinesterase by an Automated pH Stat Method

Public concern exists about the potential for reproductive damage that may result from exposures to environmental contaminants. Therefore, the authors sought to determine if there was an association between a child's congenital malformation or a child's lowered weight at birth and his or her mother's residence in a census tract where a site of environmental contamination had been documented. Exposure designations were derived from existing sources of information. Except for an elevated risk (odds ratio = 1.5) for infants with malformations of the heart and circulatory system, this investigation did not reveal increased risks for most malformations or for lowered birthweight among babies born to women who lived in these census tracts. Methodologic issues inherent to investigations that rely on existing data sources are discussed.     

Model-Based Estimates of the Effects of Efavirenz on Bedaquiline Pharmacokinetics and Suggested Dose Adjustments for Patients Coinfected with HIV and Tuberculosis

Safe, effective concomitant treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection are urgently needed. Bedaquiline (BDQ) is a promising new anti-TB drug, and efavirenz (EFV) is a commonly used antiretroviral. Due to EFV''s induction of cytochrome P450 3A4, the metabolic enzyme responsible for BDQ biotransformation, the drugs are expected to interact. Based on data from a phase I, single-dose pharmacokinetic study, a nonlinear mixed-effects model characterizing BDQ pharmacokinetics and interaction with multiple-dose EFV was developed. BDQ pharmacokinetics were best described by a 3-compartment disposition model with absorption through a dynamic transit compartment model. Metabolites M2 and M3 were described by 2-compartment models with clearance of BDQ and M2, respectively, as input. Impact of induction was described as an instantaneous change in clearance 1 week after initialization of EFV treatment and estimated for all compounds. The model predicts average steady-state concentrations of BDQ and M2 to be reduced by 52% (relative standard error [RSE], 3.7%) with chronic coadministration. A range of models with alternative structural assumptions regarding onset of induction effect and fraction metabolized resulted in similar estimates of the typical reduction and did not offer a markedly better fit to data. Simulations to investigate alternative regimens mitigating the estimated interaction effect were performed. The results suggest that simple adjustments of the standard regimen during EFV coadministration can prevent reduced exposure to BDQ without increasing exposures to M2. However, exposure to M3 would increase. Evaluation in clinical trials of adjusted regimens is necessary to ensure appropriate dosing for HIV-infected TB patients on an EFV-based regimen.     

Cholera Vaccination in Urban Haiti

Successful and sustained efforts have been made to curtail the major cholera epidemic that occurred in Haiti in 2010 with the promotion of hygiene and sanitation measures, training of health personnel and establishment of treatment centers nationwide. Oral cholera vaccine (OCV) was introduced by the Haitian Ministry of Health as a pilot project in urban and rural areas. This paper reports the successful OCV pilot project led by GHESKIO Centers in the urban slums of Port-au-Prince where 52,357 persons received dose 1 and 90.8% received dose 2; estimated coverage of the at-risk community was 75%. This pilot study demonstrated the effort, community mobilization, and organizational capacity necessary to achieve these results in a challenging setting. The OCV intervention paved the way for the recent launching of a national cholera vaccination program integrated in a long-term ambitious and comprehensive plan to address Haiti''s critical need in water security and sanitation.     

Tramadol added to 1.5% mepivacaine for axillary brachial plexus block improves postoperative analgesia dose-dependently

Adjuncts to local anesthetics for peripheral plexus blockade may enhance the quality and duration of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. The analgesic, tramadol, has a unique mechanism of action that suggests efficacy as such an adjunct. It displays a central analgesic and peripheral local anesthetic effect. We designed a prospective, randomized, controlled and double-blind clinical trial to assess the effect of tramadol added to brachial plexus anesthesia. One-hundred patients scheduled for carpal tunnel release surgery under brachial plexus anesthesia were randomized into four groups. All patients received 1.5% mepivacaine 40 mL plus a study solution containing either isotonic sodium chloride (Group P, n = 17), tramadol 40 mg (Group T(40), n = 22), tramadol 100 mg (Group T(100), n = 20) or tramadol 200 mg (Group T(200), n = 20). We evaluated the time of onset of anesthesia, duration of sensory and motor blockade, duration and quality of postoperative analgesia, and occurrence of adverse effects. Onset and duration of sensory and motor blocks were not different among groups. The number of patients requesting analgesia in the postoperative period was significantly less in the 3 tramadol groups compared with the placebo group (P = 0.02); this was also noted with the placebo and T(40) groups compared with the T(200) group. No statistical significance was demonstrated between the placebo and the T(40) group or the T(100) group and the T(200) group. Furthermore, there was a significant trend effect among groups applying the Cochran-Armitage tendency test (P = 0.003), suggesting a dose-dependent decrease for additional postoperative analgesia requirements when tramadol was added. Side effects did not differ among groups, although they were more frequently recorded in the T groups. Our study suggests that tramadol added to 1.5% mepivacaine for brachial plexus block enhances in a dose-dependent manner the duration of analgesia with acceptable side effects. However, the safety of tramadol has to be investigated before allowing its use in clinical practice. IMPLICATIONS: Tramadol's unique mechanism of action suggests efficacy as a local anesthetic adjunct for peripheral plexus blockade. Our study demonstrates that tramadol, added to mepivacaine for brachial plexus anesthesia, extends the duration and improves the quality of postoperative analgesia in a dose dependent fashion with acceptable side effects.